Lamy Fountain Pens: 9 Questions Every New User Asks (Before Making My Mistakes)

I've been handling Lamy orders for B2B clients for 8 years. Here's what I wish I knew from day one.

This isn't a marketing pitch. I'm the guy who orders office supplies and corporate gifts for a mid-sized company. In my first year (2017), I ordered 200 Lamy Safari fountain pens with the wrong nib size. That mistake cost us $890 in returns and a 1-week delay on a client's onboarding kit.

Since then, I've documented every error. This article answers the questions I get most often from new buyers. If you're buying Lamy pens for your team or as gifts, these are the things I'd tell my younger self.

1. Which Lamy fountain pen should a beginner choose?

The Lamy Safari is the standard answer, and for good reason.

It's not the cheapest, but it's the most forgiving. The grip section is ergonomic and designed to teach proper finger placement. The nib is durable—if you drop it (and you will), it's easier to replace than repair.

The Lamy AL-star is essentially the same pen with an aluminum body. Slightly heavier, slightly more premium feel. But safari is the smarter first purchase. Why? Because the plastic body is lighter for long writing sessions, and you'll spend less time worrying about scratches. I've never fully understood why some vendors push the AL-star as a 'beginner upgrade.' My best guess: the higher price point feels safer for corporate gifts. But function-wise, the Safari does the job.

2. What's the deal with Lamy nib sizes? Which one should I pick?

This is where most of my early mistakes happened.

Lamy uses a standardized sizing system: Extra Fine (EF), Fine (F), Medium (M), Broad (B), and the specialty sizes like Left-Handed (LH) and Oblique.

Here's the nuance people miss: Lamy nibs tend to run broader than Japanese brands (like Pilot). A Lamy Fine writes more like a Japanese Medium. If you're coming from a cheap ballpoint and want a fine line, a Lamy Extra Fine might still feel broad to you.

It's tempting to think 'F for Fine will work for everyone.' But the '[always buy Medium]' advice ignores people's handwriting habits. For corporate use:

• Fine (F) is the most versatile: good for general note-taking, comfortable on most paper.
• Extra Fine is better for small handwriting or cheaper paper (less bleed-through).
• Medium is smooth but can be too wet for paper quality you'd find in a typical office binder.

In September 2022, I ordered 300 Lamy Safaris with Medium nibs for a training manual kit. The pens wrote beautifully, but the ink bled through the cheaper paper we'd chosen. $450 in replacement paper + embarrassment. Now I always ask: what paper quality will this pen be used with?

3. Do Lamy fountain pens work with all ink cartridges?

No. This is a common trap.

Lamy uses proprietary cartridges. You cannot use standard international cartridges (the ones that fit most European pens like Pelikan or Waterman). Lamy cartridges have a specific shape and a wider opening.

If you're buying a Lamy pen for the first time, make sure you order Lamy cartridges or a Lamy converter. The converter lets you use bottled ink.

Honestly, I'm not sure why Lamy chose this proprietary path. My best guess: it ensures consistent ink flow performance. But it means you're locked into their ecosystem for the cartridge convenience route. For B2B orders, always include the correct cartridges in the same shipment. I once shipped pens to a client without confirming cartridge compatibility. The client filled them with generic international cartridges, which didn't fit well. Three days of back-and-forth to resolve.

4. Which Lamy ink colors are available? I want something beyond basic black or blue.

Lamy has an impressive range of bottled ink colors.

The standard lineup includes Crystal inks (like Lamy Azurite, a deep blue-black with subtle purple undertones) and the 'Standard' range (including the famous Lamy Petrol, Lamy Dark Lilac, and Lamy Bronze).

For corporate use, black and blue are the safe choices. But I've seen companies use Lamy Azurite ink for internal Christmas card campaigns—it's distinctive without being unprofessional.

One thing to note: some special edition inks (like Dark Lilac) are discontinued and can be expensive on secondary markets. If you're buying for an office, stick to current production colors unless you want to hunt down bottles at premium prices. The color range is broad enough. Lamy currently produces about 15-20 standard and crystal inks. You won't feel limited.

5. How do I clean a Lamy fountain pen if it's not flowing properly?

This is the question I get most often from office managers.

A fountain pen that's not flowing usually has dried ink stuck in the nib or feed. The simple fix:

1. Remove the ink cartridge or converter.
2. Flush the nib section with lukewarm water (not hot—can warp plastics).
3. Use a bulb syringe if possible to force water through the feed.
4. Let it dry nib-down in a cup overnight.

If it's still blocked after that, you might need to soak the nib in water for 24 hours. I've never had a Lamy nib that didn't recover with this method. The 'pen not flowing' issue is almost always dried ink, not a manufacturing defect.

Looking back, I should have included cleaning instructions in every bulk order. At the time, I assumed everyone knew. They didn't. A simple one-page care guide would have saved multiple support emails.

6. Is Lamy a good option for corporate gifts and promotional items?

Yes, but with one important caution.

Lamy pens are recognized as quality German writing instruments—they carry prestige without being as expensive as Montblanc. For mid-range corporate gifts (budget $30-$60 per recipient), a Lamy Safari or AL-star with a branded pouch is a strong choice.

The caution: you cannot engrave Lamy pens as easily as some other brands. The Safari and AL-star bodies are made of ABS plastic or aluminum with a specific finish. Engraving can sometimes crack the finish. If you want custom engraving, I'd recommend checking with Lamy directly or an authorized gift distributor. I tried a third-party engraver once—ruined 30 pens. Not a mistake I'll repeat.

7. How do I remove permanent marker from my Lamy pen barrel?

A surprisingly common question.

Maybe someone labels things in storage. Maybe a child found your pen. Permanent marker on a Lamy Safari (ABS plastic) can be removed with isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol). Apply it to a cloth—not directly on the pen—and gently rub. The alcohol dissolves the marker ink without damaging the plastic (usually). But test on a small area first.

For the AL-star (aluminum body), the same method works, but be cautious with alcohol on the anodized finish. Some anodized finishes can dull with strong solvents. If in doubt, a dry-erase marker over the permanent marker, then wipe off. Counterintuitive, but works.

8. Does Lamy produce Lamy fountain pens in color 'Black'?

Yes. The Lamy Safari and AL-star both come in black options.

The 'Lamy fountain pen black' is available as:

• Safari in matte black (ABS plastic).
• AL-star in black (aluminum body with a black finish).
• Studio in a brushed steel/black combination.

For B2B uniform orders, the matte black Safari is popular. It looks neutral and professional. The black AL-star is marginally more elegant for premium gifts. But if you're ordering in bulk, the Safari is the practical choice.

9. How long does a Lamy cartridge last?

Depends on writing volume, but typically 20-30 A4 pages of average handwriting.

A standard Lamy T10 cartridge holds about 1.2ml of ink. For a typical office worker who writes notes, signs documents, and maybe drafts a few memos, one cartridge lasts roughly 2-3 weeks. Heavier writers might go through one per week.

If you're ordering pens for an office, order cartridges in bulk. Each pen should come with at least one cartridge included. Many suppliers will include a pack of 5 with a single pen order—that's a good practice.

If I could redo my first bulk order, I'd order cartridges at a 10:1 ratio (10 cartridges per 1 pen). Standardizing on black ink for general use, with blue or colored options available on request. That way, you have enough to hand out refills without stockouts.